Springfield aiming to bring some of the Silicon Valley to the Upper Valley

Springfield aiming to bring some of the Silicon Valley to the Upper Valley

New initiative aims to attract technology companies to Springfield

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Updated: 8:00 PM EDT Sep 18, 2018

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WEBVTT 21ST CENTURY. >> THERE IS SO MUCH NEW TECHNOLOGY OUT THERE, IT IS VERY EXCITING TO SEE WHAT IT WILL BE. ROSS: THERE’S A LOT TO BE EXCITED ABOUT IN SPRINGFIELD. A NEW INITIATIVE IS BRINGING A LITTLE BIT OF SILICON VALLEY TO THE UPPER VALLEY. >> SPRINGFIELD HAS 10 GIGABIT FIBER, ARGUABLY THE FASTEST INTERNET SPEED IN THE COUNTRY. ROSS: BOB IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE SPRINGFIELD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. THEY ARE TRYING TO DEVELOP SPRINKLED INTO A TECHNOLOGY OF. >> GOOD WAGES, INNOVATIVE, AND BUILT FOR THE LONG-HAUL. ROSS: THE PROJECT HAS RAISED $1 MILLION. COMMUNITY LEADERS SAY IT WILL START THE NEWEST CHAPTER IN SPRINGFIELD INNOVATIVE HISTORY. >> BEFORE SILICON VALLEY, RIGHT HERE SOME OF THE GREATEST MINDS IN TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION WERE HARD AT WORK CREATING THE MACHINE TOOLS THE DID EVERYTHING FROM POWERING THE JETS WE USE, ARMAMENTS, EVERYTHING ELSE. >> WE ARE HOPING TO RESTART THAT, MAKE SPRINGFIELD AGAIN A PLACE KNOWN FOR INNOVATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY. ROSS: FOR BUSINESS OWNERS, NEW INNOVATION MEANS NEW CUSTOMERS IN THE COMMUNITY HE GREW UP IN. >> I’M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT IT BRINGS TO TOWN, THE TYPES OF MRS. IT BRINGS TO TOWN. AND HAVE NEW YOUNG PEOPLE KICKSTART THE COMMUNITY. ROSS: DEVELOPERS HOPE TO REC

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Springfield aiming to bring some of the Silicon Valley to the Upper Valley

A new innovation initiative is aimed at bringing a little bit of Silicon Valley to the Upper Valley. The Black River Innovation Campus is a project aimed at attracting technology companies to Springfield. "It's a catch-all for a number of initiatives all related to technology, all related to innovation, that hopefully with have a significant economic impact on Springfield," said the executive director of the Springfield Regional Development Corporation Bob Flint.The project, which has raised $1 million in funding, will turn vacant spaces in Springfield's growing downtown area in work centers for technology companies. Flint, who himself is from Springfield, said the town is the perfect location in Vermont to host the booming tech industry because of its unique infrastructure. "Springfield has one thing that maybe even Silicon Valley doesn't even have," he said. "That's 10 gigabyte fiber. We have arguably the fastest internet speed to every building in this town in the country." The far-reaching initiative touches many facets of the Springfield community, including coding classes in Springfield public schools. Partners of the project said one of their major goals was to help Springfield, which once boasted the highest per-capita income in the state, rediscover its innovative identity."Before Silicon Valley, there was Precision Valley," said Matt Dunne, executive director for the Center for Rural Innovation. "Right here, some of the greatest minds in technology and innovation were hard at work creating the machine tools that did everything from powering the kinds of jets we used, to armaments and everything else." Dunne said he believes the same innovative mindset that defined Springfield's once-booming machine tool industry has been woven into the fabric the the Black River Innovation Campus. "We're hoping to restart that," Flint said. "We want to make Springfield again a place that's known for innovation in the 21st century. Flint said he hopes the initiative helps add to the vibrancy of Springfield's bustling downtown. According to Flin, one tech California-based company has already committed to stationing some of its workforce in Springfield to work remotely. "This is exactly the kind of initiative we need," Republican Gov. Phil Scott said. "It's going to create good-paying jobs, something that is needed across the state, especially in our rural communities" Scott said the innovative and flexible opportunities created by the initiative will help attract and retain young workers to Vermont. The governor said he would commit state funds to training workers for the digital economy.Non-technology-based businesses also stand to benefit from the influx of digital-economy workers. Nick Matush, whose restaurant hosted the initiative's announcement on Tuesday, said he was optimistic about the growth it will bring in his home town community. "I'm excited to see who it brings to town and what kind of businesses and new young people to help kick-start our community," he said. Flint said he hoped to eventually convert the former Park Street School into the home of the campus, complete with a start-up incubator for budding technology companies to work on their ideas. He said the remote-workforce project will start recruiting employees in early 2019.

SPRINGFIELD, Vt. —

A new innovation initiative is aimed at bringing a little bit of Silicon Valley to the Upper Valley.

The Black River Innovation Campus is a project aimed at attracting technology companies to Springfield.

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"It's a catch-all for a number of initiatives all related to technology, all related to innovation, that hopefully with have a significant economic impact on Springfield," said the executive director of the Springfield Regional Development Corporation Bob Flint.

The project, which has raised $1 million in funding, will turn vacant spaces in Springfield's growing downtown area in work centers for technology companies.

Flint, who himself is from Springfield, said the town is the perfect location in Vermont to host the booming tech industry because of its unique infrastructure.

"Springfield has one thing that maybe even Silicon Valley doesn't even have," he said. "That's 10 gigabyte fiber. We have arguably the fastest internet speed to every building in this town in the country."

The far-reaching initiative touches many facets of the Springfield community, including coding classes in Springfield public schools.

Partners of the project said one of their major goals was to help Springfield, which once boasted the highest per-capita income in the state, rediscover its innovative identity.

"Before Silicon Valley, there was Precision Valley," said Matt Dunne, executive director for the Center for Rural Innovation. "Right here, some of the greatest minds in technology and innovation were hard at work creating the machine tools that did everything from powering the kinds of jets we used, to armaments and everything else."

Dunne said he believes the same innovative mindset that defined Springfield's once-booming machine tool industry has been woven into the fabric the the Black River Innovation Campus.

"We're hoping to restart that," Flint said. "We want to make Springfield again a place that's known for innovation in the 21st century.

Flint said he hopes the initiative helps add to the vibrancy of Springfield's bustling downtown.

According to Flin, one tech California-based company has already committed to stationing some of its workforce in Springfield to work remotely.

"This is exactly the kind of initiative we need," Republican Gov. Phil Scott said. "It's going to create good-paying jobs, something that is needed across the state, especially in our rural communities"

Scott said the innovative and flexible opportunities created by the initiative will help attract and retain young workers to Vermont.

The governor said he would commit state funds to training workers for the digital economy.

Non-technology-based businesses also stand to benefit from the influx of digital-economy workers.

Nick Matush, whose restaurant hosted the initiative's announcement on Tuesday, said he was optimistic about the growth it will bring in his home town community.

"I'm excited to see who it brings to town and what kind of businesses and new young people to help kick-start our community," he said.

Flint said he hoped to eventually convert the former Park Street School into the home of the campus, complete with a start-up incubator for budding technology companies to work on their ideas.

He said the remote-workforce project will start recruiting employees in early 2019.